Transcript document

Chapter 3: Nile Civilizations
Section 3 - The Nubian Kingdoms
Main Idea
One of ancient Africa’s most advanced civilizations,
Kush developed along the Nile south of Egypt in a
region called Nubia.
Focus
• What were the land and people of Nubia like?
• How did Kush grow into a major civilization?
• How did Kushite society change in its later period?
Section 3 - The Nubian Kingdoms
With the collapse of the New Kingdom in the 750s BC,
Piankhi, King of Kush, sent his army north to crush the
Egyptians. He told his troops, “It is a year for making an
end, for putting the fear of me in Lower Egypt, and
inflicting on them a great and severe beating!” Within a few
years the army reached the Nile Delta and Piankhi ruled all
of Egypt; a foreigner had become Egypt’s pharaoh
I. The Region of Nubia
Extended south of Egypt from first cataract to
merging of Blue and White Nile
I. The Region of Nubia
Nubia had great mineral wealth - gold, granite,
precious stones
Egyptian wall painting depicting Nubians taking offerings
of gold to Egypt around 1850 BC
I. The Region of Nubia
Trade goods from central Africa passed through
Nubia
I. The Region of Nubia
Were superb traders, skilled potters, and
expert archers
Libyans, Nubians, Syrians, Egyptians
I. The Region of Nubia
Egypt conquered much of Nubia during the
Middle Kingdom
Nubians bringing gold to the pharaoh
II. The Growth of Kush
A powerful Nubian state called Kush began to
develop
II. The Growth of Kush
1700s BC Kush expanded to rule all Nubia
Statues of soldiers from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt
II. The Growth of Kush
Kush was free of Egypt’s control by 1100 BC
Sphinx of Shepenwepet II, representative of the Kushite royalty
II. The Growth of Kush
Piankhi led Kushites north and conquered all
of Egypt
II. The Growth of Kush
Mid-600s BC, Assyrians pushed Kushites back
into Nubia
III. Later Kush
Mid-200s BC, Kushites moved their capital
south from Napata to Meroë
III. Later Kush
Iron became Kush’s most valuable product
Iron Ore
III. Later Kush
AD 200s - Iron trade declined because forests
were destroyed, weakening kingdom
AD 350 - Aksum invaded, destroyed Meroë,
Kushite civilization faded away
Pyramids of Meroe